Kew the Ducks (in Kew Gardens) and Jimmy Carr on Tax

Now that February is with us I personally feel a little more energetic and energised - this w/e at Kew Gardens - really cold but looks like the gardeners have been very busy with many borders cleared and ready for planting.

Not all Orchids are White or cream

But some are

Spent a little time in Princess of Wales Conservatory which will shortly have Orchid show and it seems some Chinese New Year decorations (Year of the Dog- Feb 16th).

'Great Shot' says Ealing Gazette

It's a great place to take photo's and having been back in the local paper - I'm busy 'snapping again and as that picture featured 'Ducks' I'm keeping an eye on them.

Stepping out

Kew Ducks on Parade in Kew

Jimmy Carr

Room 101 the BBC TV show is (it seems to me) evolving into something more akin to a chat show, I'm conscious that there's a tendency to keep things light - no one suggests putting Stalin, Mao or other figures who persecuted and killed into Room 101 -the men responsible for so many deaths in the 20th Century are not a subject for banishment?

It was though good to see Jimmy Carr revisiting his own personal humiliation over 'underpaying/avoidance' of  tax ( but who likes paying more tax than they need to?)- should we expect a Comedian to be so much better than Politicians (or the UK's Queen)?

If it's wrong why not try and stop high earners from their Tax avoidance surely a job for Government?

Kew Gardens and 65

Kew Gardens is looking great as we start to see Spring manifesting itself.

This weekend we had a good old walk around the garden followed by a meal at  nearby Ask!  (excellent service there) and then walked all the way back to Ealing.

The chance of a walk around is something that I'm lucky enough to be able to take up on a fairly regular basis - it's a time to have a conversation without too many interruptions and electronic distractions.

(Noticed the Paolozzi and Moore sculptures too.)

A blanket of colour is laid out

And the flowers that make it 

As well as the usual changes brought about by nature  there's an amazing photographic exhibition (only 1 week to go).

I like the way £82 62 sounds

And a room of photo's

Doors

Gorsvenor Road sign looks like it's seen some life

65A is round the back

Long overdue visit to Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens- Surely got Cold Feet

So Sunday was an  absolutely lovely December day in West London and we got our skates on (not literally - although with several frozen areas of water that would have worked ).

What we find is that each visit (and we make a few) is different either because of changes made by the Garden team or by the seasons/weather.

The big addition I spotted this visit was 'The Hive' - it was created by the amazingly named Wolfgang Buttress for the 2015 Milan Expo l (nice picture of it here).

I like the Art- installations that Kew does they tend to obliquely reference 'Natural' things in an intriguing manner.

Liking the way 'The Hive' fits disappears in  the trees of the landscape

I also tried to get a picture reflecting an earlier one I took

And yesterday the statue 

The silhouette of a gardener with statue (Feb 2015) 

Also the low sun gave me this opportunity

Golden sun in Kew Gardens